Step-bearing.



R. H. RICE.

STEP BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 14, 1905. 974,186. I

,II I I la w IIIIIII Witnesses# .1., I E= E :Tin m H. w w v d m z .I @J .m

'UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIoiz.

RICHARD H. RICE, OF LYNN, L'IASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10- GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A vCOREOLRA'IION OF NEW -YORK.

STEP-BEARING.

Specification OfLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application mea Novemer 14, 1905. seriai No. 287,288.

To all 'who-m it Imay concern.' A

ABc it known that. l, RICHARD H. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step- Bearings, of which the following is a. specilication.

My invention. relates to bearings which are particularly applicable to vertical shafts, such for example as are used in turbines of the well-known Curtis type. While I have shown and described the invention as used in connection with this class of apparatus, I' desire to have it understood that it is not limited thereto in all respects. The invention relates more especially t step-and-guide bearings of that type wherein main and auxiliary bearing blocks are employed, the first operating tol sustain the weight ot the shaft and its attached partsv under normal conditions and the second to ,sustain it under emergency conditions.

One object of the mventlon is to provide abearing of improved construction whereby adj ustmentof the bearing blocks to obtain the proper clearance between relatively movable buckets and other parts of the turbine is greatly facilitated. j

A further objectv is to provide a construction which permits of a more convenient remoral of the bearing, and also increases accessibility of the parts thereof. v

In the 'accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a'bottom plan viewof the bearing; Fig. 2 is a section on theA line 2-2 of Fig. 1: and Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the guide-bearing. j

Referringvto the drawing, the step-bearing show .n comprises a casing 19 into Awhich extends the lower end of the turbine shaft 3. This shaft carries the bucket wheels of the turbine rotor." The wheel'buckets which areV cally adjustable bearing block by means of which the position of the shaft and through it the clearancev of the buckets can be adjusted. The necessity for adjusting lthe clearance between the buckets and the adjacent parts ar1ses from various causes such -as unequal expansion of the bucket wheels,

or the diiere'ntial expansion of the shaft and casing, or variations in load. The bottom of the casing 19 is closed by a plate or 'head 2O which is secured in place by the bottom plate 20 of the bearing casing is provided with a cylindrical extension' 26 which extends into the bearing chamber and forms a guide for the main bearing block. Secured to the main bearing block and extending through the bottom plate 2O is the adjusting screw 27, packing being employed around the stem of the screw to prevent' leakage. Between the upper and llower bearing blocks is formed a chamber which communicates with a second'cha'mber formed between the main bearingl block and the bottom plate. Fluid under a suitable pressure is supplied to the lower chamber through a pipe or conduit 28 and from the lower chamber the fluid passes. to the upper chamber between the bearing blocks by means of the lpassage 29. The effect-ive pressure on the underside of the main bearing block considerably exceeds the eective pressure on thel upper side, so that the fluid pressure while being suicient to support the shaft and maintain a separating lubricating lm between the blocks, will also hydraulically support the lower bearing block.

The auxiliary bearing block 24 is annular in shape and arranged concentrically with respect to the main block. It is supported upon the vertically-extending screws 30, three or more in number, arranged equidistantaround the block and extending through the wall of the cylindrical extension 26. By means of these screws the auxiliary bearing block-can be adjusted to and' from the upper bearing block. The normal position of this auxiliary bearing block is slightly below the top of the main bearing ing the main blocks fails, thus relieving the main block from the weight of the shaft and preventing its probable injury. The screw 27 of the main bearing block is actuated by the nut 30a which forms a gear wheel Imeshing with the worm 32 on the motor shaft 14.

The several screws for adjusting the auxiliary block are operated by means 4of a gear wheel 34 which meshes with pinions 35, feathered to the lower ends of the screws. The gear wheel 34 is mounted on an extension 36 on the bottom plate 20 and is held in position by the hub of the spider 37. The arms of the spider serve to support the pinions 35. The gear 34 is rotated' by a worm 38 on the shaft 39, which shaft may be operated from the motor 13, or in any suitable manner. The nut 30a abutting the extension 3 6 limits the upward movement of the main lower bearing block under the pressure of the fluid. The downward movement of the block, when the pressure fails, is limited by the nut abutting a cross-piece or yoke 40 located below the adjusting nut 30% The yoke is supported upon guides 41 which preferably take the'form of two large bolts arranged at diametrically opposite points and screwed into the bottom plate 20. The

ends of the yoke are bifurcated and span the vertically-extendin threaded'rods 43, the latter being provi ed with hand wheels or nuts 44. The upper endsl of the rods are hinged to bolts 45'1 secured in the base 5. vBy this arrangement, when it is desired to remove the bearing, it is simply necessary to take out the bolts 21, whereupon the weight of the bottom plate, the bearmg blocks and yoke will be transferred to the yoke which rests upon the hand wheels. By screwing down the hand wheels the bottom late carrying with it the lower bearing b ocks can be lowered sulliciently to ermit of inspection or repair and this without disturbin the alinement.v Also the screw rods and l hand wheels facilitate the complete removal of the parts, as they can be lowered to a suitable point by the hand wheels to be loaded on a truck and then drawn from the pit. As the of the yoke span the screw rods disengagement is' readily eeetedby moving the rods outwardly on their hinges. The

' main bearing block is normally maintained in its up er position by a pin 45 which is supporte by a spring 46. The ,object of the pin is to normally maintain the blocks in contact so that when the lubricant supply is established it will not find free exit through the space that would otherwise be formed between the blocks. In other words the lower block is mechanically supported in contact with the upper block so as to offer the desired resistance to the flow to cause the pressurejin the chamber between the blocks to become'sufiicient to slightly separate the blocks and by the resultant film support the shaft and its parts. The pin extends through a central opening in the yoke and engages the lower end of the adjusting screw 27. Its supportin spring is seated at its lower end on an a justable abutment 47 and its upper end engages a shoulder 48 formed on the pin. llVhen the pressure on the step -bearing fails the shaft will lower, causing the upper block to contact with the lower bearing block. The latter, however, being spring-supported, will yield under the 'weight of the shaft sufficiently to permit theauxiliary block to sustain the weight. In order to'reduce the wear on the main lower bearing block, its upperV surface is provided with an annular groove which receives a removable ring 49. The ring being relatively inexpensive and less diiicult to make than the bearing block,`reduces the cost of maintenance and repair of the bearing. f

Arranged in the casing 19 and at a point above the step bearing is the guide bea-ring which steadies the shaft and prevents lateral movement thereof. This comprises a shell 50 suitably secured in the casing and lined with segmental strips 51 that extend parallel to the axis of the shell. The longitudinal edges of the strips are beveled to engage with dove-tailed keys 52 that are secured to the shell by screws 53. The keys 52 are countersunk with respect to the segments sofas to formygrooves between the lining and the shaft. The segments 51 may be made of suitable bearing metal or of wood, such as lignum vitae. In order to protect the shaft from wear it is desirable to provide a sleeve 54. The guide bearing is lubricated by the fluid that exhausts from the step bearing, the exhaust passing outwardly from the chamber between the two blocks into the space surrounding the latter. This luid is under suiiicient pressure to cause it to flow upwardly through the grooves of the guide bearing so as to lubricate the latter. The lubricant passing from the guide bearing is drained olf through a suitable conduit. In accordance with the provisions of the A patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best'embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- Y 1. A shaft bearing for turbines comprising two adjustable bearing blocks, a screw. for adjusting one, a plurality of screws for l block. L

Q. A shaft. bearing fortu-rbines comprising al 'rotating element, main and auxiliary bearing blocks which a-revindividually adapted tosupport said element under different conditions, a member in which the main bl'ock is hydraulically supported,means for rigidly supporting the auxiliary block which includes a. plurality of screws mounted in said member, and gearing carried by t-he member for simultaneously rotating the screws to adjust the position of the auxiliary block.

f3. A shaft bearing for turbines comprising a rotating member, main and auxiliary bearing blocksV which operate independently, a casingfor the blocks and member, means for limiting the movement of t-he main block and for adjusting'it, adjusting screws in the casing for supporting the auxiliary block, pinions splined to the screws, a gear meshing with the pinions of the several screws, and means for operating the gear.

Ll. A shaft bearing for turbines comprising a rotating element, an adjustable block for supporting it, a casing containing the element and block, a head for the casing, adjusting screws arranged in the head upon the ends of which the block rests,` pinions splined to the screws, a gear meshing with the pinions for simultaneously operating the screws, there being means on the head forming a. bearing for the gear', and a device supported by the. said means for rotatably supporting the. pinions. A

5. A shaft bearing for turbines comprising a casing, a rotating element, a hydraulically. supported bearing blockv therefor, there being .a chamber formed between the element and the block, a conduit supplying.

lubricant under pressure tb the chamber to flow outwardly therefrom and maintain a fluid film between the element and the block, and lneans for maintaining the block block, guides secured to one end of the cas `mg, a yoke adjnstably mounted on the guides, and an elastic means supported bv the yoke which constantly urges the block toward the member.;

7. A shaft-bearing for turbines comprising a rotating element, a casing, an adjustable block mounted in `the casing for supporting the' element, a condult for mamtaining a. tiuid film between the elelnent and j the block, a member in which the block is hydraulically supported and urged toward said element. gearmg for adjusting the position of the block. guides secured to one end of the casing adjacent said gearing, a yoke slidably mounted on the guides, and a spring pressed pin in the yoke which constantly' urges the block toward the element.

8. A shaft bearing for turblnes comprising a casing, a rotating member, a hydraulically supported block arranged adjacent to said member, a conduit for vmaintaining a separating fluid film between them, means which adjusts the position of the block and 'that also serves 'as an abutment that-engages the casing to limit the upward movement of the block, said means including a screw projecting downward from the block through the casing, and a nut on the screw which forms said abutment, a yoke mounted on the casing below the screw, anda springpressed follower carried by the yoke which bears againsto the end of the screw and moves the block upward under certain conditions.

9. A shaft bearing for elastic-Huid turbines comprising a rotating block, a supporting block, a casing for both, a removab e head for thev casing which carries the supporting block, and devices which support the weight of the head and block during re- -moval from the bea-ring casing.

10. A shaft bearing r elastic-fluid turbines comprising an'upper block and a lower block, a casing therefor, a removable head for the casing which carries t-he. lower block, means for hydraulically supporting'the lower block in said head, screws depending from the exterior of the casing, a yoke under the head which is adapted to support its weight during removal, and nuts on t-he screws by whichthe yoke is carried during removal or replacing vof the head.-

11.*A shaft. bearing for elastic-Huid turbines comprising an upper and a lower lbearing block, a casing therefor, means for adjusting the lower block, a removable head which'carries the said means and also-thc` lower blockJa yoke arranged below .the head which is adapted -to support it during removal, vlcpending screws supported at thc sides of the ca sing and below the same which are engaged by theends of the yoke, and hand wheels on the screws upon which the yoke is movably supported for removing or a replacing the head.

l2. A shaft bearing comprising a rotatable clement, a casing, a mam and an auxiliary bearing block mounted in said casing which are adapted lo separately support the clement under different conditions, a device for supplying fluid under a suitable presandzrmaintain a film between it and the e1ev ment'g' and means for maintaining the main block in operative relation to the element to support the latter when the fluid pressure is restored, comprising a. member secured to said block which projects outwardly from the bearing, a yoke mounted on the casing, a pin mounted for longitudinal movement in the yoke which engages the end of said 10 member, and a spring mounted on the yoke which presses the pin against the member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of November, 1905. v RICHARD H. RICE.

Witnesses:

' JOHN A. MoMANUs, Jr., 'HENRY O. WESTENDARP. 

